AFIL Leadership Project 2011 Kate Emery & YuJin Yong Norman Borlaug & AFIL Guatemalan Student Experience Fund

Getting Started  Goal: support global sustainable farming ◦ Norman Borlaug Institute Fundraising Event: ◦ Cookbooks ◦ Cooking competition  Competition between international student groups  Sponsorships through local businesses  Ticket sales ◦ Partnership with on-campus culinary student organization

Derailed  Challenges Encountered with Texas A&M Iron Chef Lack of Participation/Interest ◦ Leadership of campus partnership changed ◦ Lack of support from international groups ◦ Minimal business sponsors Timing & Funding ◦ Scheduling of event ◦ Local businesses already established budgets

Changing Direction  AFIL Guatemalan Student Experience Scholarship Fund ◦ Supporting Norman Borlaug’s Guatemala project site ◦ Give Texas A&M students opportunity to participate  Historically, only agricultural majors Increase awareness ◦ Norman Borlaug Institute’s project sites ◦ Institute’s cause ◦ Student opportunities within Norman Borlaug Institute Narrowing down a goal: Norman Borlaug Institute (as a whole)  Norman Borlaug Institute’s Antigua, Guatemala project site

Moving Forward  Program’s Purpose For Texas A&M students to: ◦ Experience Guatemalan culture ◦ Gain experience in developing a personal project ◦ Engage in international service Agriculture in Guatemala: Technology, Education, and Commercialization (AGTEC) ◦ helps small-scale Mayan farmers in impoverish communities ◦ promote economic development

Moving Forward  AFIL Guatemalan Student Experience Scholarship Fund Scholarship will cover a portion of the costs for participating Texas A&M students to travel to Norman Borlaug Institute’s Antigua, Guatemala project site

Moving Forward  Program Details Antigua, Guatemala June 1-11, 2011 Customizable special community projects ◦ Structured with help of in-country staff ◦ Ex. Children’s orphanage, women’s groups Spanish prerequisite Application due April 24, 2011 Budgeted expenses per student Plane ticket - $600 Lodging & Breakfast - $15/day Lunch & Dinner - $13/day Estimate expense for 10 days: $880 - $1000

Getting There  Fundraising: Fair Trade Coffee sales ◦ Partnership with Olmos Perk Coffee Bar in San Antonio to brew the Guatemalan coffee Local gifts sales ◦ Bracelets ◦ Mother’s Day gift packages Awareness: Website ◦ Information & online donation option Flyers/information with products Student opportunities ◦ Through various student organizations

Current Status Organization Student travel program established with Norman Borlaug Institute Partnership with the Guatemala Student Association Funds Raised $500+ in donations through coffee sales so far

Project’s Future Sustainability Continuation through partnership with Guatemalan Student Association Structured for future AFIL members Ultimate Goal $6000 goal before December 2011 ◦ Cover complete costs for 6 students

Important Lessons Learned Maintaining organization Importance of timing Working with others Being flexible Adapting to change

Q&A